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2 KINGS 5
PARAGRAPH DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS
| NASB | NKJV | NRSV | TEV | NJB (MT versing) |
| Naaman Is Healed | Naaman's Leprosy Healed | The Curing of the Leprosy of Naaman | Naaman Is Cured | Naaman Is Healed |
| 5:1-5 | 5:1-4 | 5:1-5a | 5:1-5a | 5:1-7 |
| 5:5-7 | 5:5b-7 | 5:5b-6 | ||
| 5:6-7 | ||||
| 5:7 | ||||
| 5:8-14 | 5:8-14 | 5:8-14 | 5:8 | 5:8-14 |
| 5:9-12 | ||||
| Gehazi's Greed | 5:13-15 | |||
| 5:15-19 | 5:15-19 | 5:15-19a | 5:15-19 | |
| 5:16a | ||||
| 5:16b-18 | ||||
| 5:19a | ||||
| Gehazi's Greed | 5:19b-24 | 5:19b-21 | ||
| 5:20-25 | 5:20-27 | 5:20-24 | ||
| 5:22 | ||||
| 5:23-25a | ||||
| 5:25-27 | 5:25b | |||
| 5:26-27 | 5:26-27 | 5:25-27 |
READING CYCLE THREE (see
"Bible Interpretation Seminar")
FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT THE PARAGRAPH LEVEL
This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects. Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.
WORD AND PHRASE STUDY
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 5:1-5
1Now Naaman, captain of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master
and highly respected, because by him the Lord had given victory to
Aram. The man was also a valiant warrior, but he was a leper. 2Now the Arameans had
gone out in bands and had taken captive a little girl from the land of Israel; and she waited on
Naaman's wife. 3She said to her mistress, "I wish that my master were with the prophet
who is in Samaria! Then he would cure him of his leprosy." 4Naaman went in and told his
master, saying, "Thus and thus spoke the girl who is from the land of Israel." 5Then the
king of Aram said, "Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel." He departed and took with him
ten talents of silver and six thousand shekels of gold and ten changes of clothes.
5:1 "Naaman, captain of the army of the king of Syria" Wow, of all the people YHWH would show mercy to, this is shocking! YHWH loves all people! Jesus uses this very example in Luke 4:27.
Surprisingly, Josephus does not record this account.
SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN
▣ "Syria" This was the Greek word for "Aram" (BDB 74), which included the nation above Israel extending to the Euphrates River. See NIDOTTE, vol. 4, pp. 410-412.
There was an off-and-on relationship of hostility between Israel and Aram because of their proximity.
| ▣ | |
| NASB, TEV | "highly respected" |
| NKJV, Peshitta | "honorable man" |
| NRSV | "in high favor" |
| NJB | "favor" |
| REB | "highly esteemed" |
| JPSOA | "high in his favor" |
| LXX | "marveled at in face" |
The MT has the phrase "lift the face" (BDB 669, KB 724, Qal PASSIVE PARTICIPLE plus the NOUN "face" (BDB 815). This very idiom is what judges in Israel are not to do. By lifting the chin one is able to recognize the person. Here, the idiom means "lift the face so as to recognize and honor the person."
▣ "by him the Lord had given victory to Syria" This is one of many examples in the OT of YHWH's control of and direction of all history. This is His world (i.e., Deut. 32:8) and He has a plan for it (i.e., Acts 2:23; 3:18; 4:28)!!
| ▣ | |
| NASB, NKJV, NRSV, TEV, NJB, REB, JPSOA | "victory" |
| LXX, Peshitta | "deliverance" |
The MT has the FEMININE NOUN (BDB 448; NIDOTTE, vol. 2, p. 556, #V), which means
Salvation in the OT is primarily physical deliverance (i.e, 2 Chr. 6:41; Ps. 119:41; 132:16). Only in the NT does it take on the added dimension of spiritual salvation.
▣ "but he was a leper" For a discussion of the word "leprosy" see my exegetical notes online at Leviticus 13-14. Also note ABD, vol. 4, pp. 277-282.
In the ANE "leprosy" was used for many diseases from full leprosy (Hansens's disease) to skin pigmentation (cf. Leviticus 13-14).
5:2 This verse shows the tension between Syria and Israel during this period, as do vv. 6-7.
▣ "had taken captive a little girl" Wow, this little girl who had been captured and made a slave still cares about her master's health!
This slave girl had great faith in YHWH and His prophet! I am sure she had heard many stories about Elisha before her capture. Also, she did not blame YHWH for the misfortune of her life!
YHWH took a terrible event and used it for His glory. Please read Hannah Whithall Smith, The Christian's Secret to a Happy Life.
5:3 "Samaria" This was the capital of Israel, built during the reign of Omri.
The northern people of YHWH went by several names.
Although it is often referred to in literature as "the northern ten tribes," it was only nine tribes.
SPECIAL TOPIC: KINGS OF THE DIVIDED KINGDOM
▣ "cure him" This VERB (BDB 62, KB 74, Qal PERFECT) basically means "to gather" or "to take away." It is rarely used of taking away an illness (NIDOTTE, vol. 1, p. 469, #3).
5:4-5 Notice how the simple message of the slave girl motivated both Naaman and the king of Syria.
5:5 Notice that neither the king of Syria or Israel is named. Therefore, moderns cannot exactly date this event. Unfortunately, too often for moderns, dating somehow trumps the historicity of the event.
SPECIAL TOPIC: OT HISTORIOGRAPHY COMPARED WITH NEAR EASTERN CULTURES
SPECIAL TOPIC: OT HISTORICAL NARRATIVE
▣ "talents. . .shekels" This was a very large sum of money.
SPECIAL TOPIC: ANE WEIGHTS AND VOLUMES
| ▣ | |
| NASB, NKJV, REB, JPSOA | "changes of clothes" |
| NRSV, Peshitta | "set of garments" |
| TEV | "changes of fine clothes" |
| NJB | "festival robes" |
| LXX | "changes of robes" |
The term (BDB 93) can refer to
In the ANE there were several sources of wealth.
The Tyndale OT Commentary, p. 207, says it was cloth not clothes, but it does not clarify why this assumption is made.
This wealth carried by Naaman but sent by the Syrian King, was apparently for a court prophet, but Elisha was not that. This was an attempt to buy God's healing. This is why Gehazi's greed was so serious. It gave the wrong impression about YHWH and His prophet.
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 5:6-7
6He brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, "And now as this letter comes to
you, behold, I have sent Naaman my servant to you, that you may cure him of his leprosy."
7When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, "Am I God, to
kill and to make alive, that this man is sending word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? But
consider now, and see how he is seeking a quarrel against me."
5:7 "tore his clothes" See SPECIAL TOPIC: GRIEVING RITES.
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 5:8-14
8It happened when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his
clothes, that he sent word to the king, saying, "Why have you torn your clothes? Now let him come
to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel." 9So Naaman came with his
horses and his chariots and stood at the doorway of the house of Elisha. 10Elisha
sent a messenger to him, saying, "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh will be
restored to you and you will be clean." 11But Naaman was furious and went away and
said, "Behold, I thought, 'He will surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the
Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper.'
12Are not Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of
Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?" So he turned and went away in a rage.
13Then his servants came near and spoke to him and said, "My father, had the prophet
told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to
you, 'Wash, and be clean'?" 14So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the
Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little
child and he was clean.
5:8 "he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel" Naaman already believed he could be healed in Israel, but his faith would be deepened into full faith in YHWH (cf. vv. 15-19).
The word "know" often has the connotation of personal relationship.
5:9-10 Naaman came with all his pride and power to Elisha's door but the prophet only sent his messenger to the door.
This was a faith test for Naaman. He expected the prophet to perform some act of magic.
5:10 "Jordan" This main river of Palestine was about a 40 mile trip from Samaria.
5:11 "call on the name of the Lord" See SPECIAL TOPIC: CALL ON THE NAME (Isa. 12:4) and SPECIAL TOPIC: "THE NAME" OF YHWH.
5:12 Two main rivers of Damascus, Syria, were very clear. The Jordan was quite muddy (NIDOTTE, vol. 4, pp. 802-805).
The MT has "Abana" but the Masoretic scholars suggested "Amanah" (BDB 53, Targums).
5:13 "My father" This is a somewhat unusual title for a master. Usually he would be called "Lord" (Adon). But there are several examples of the metaphorical usage (NIDOTTE, vol. 1, p. 221, #6).
5:14 I Can imagine Naaman dipping once, no change; twice, no change; thrice, no change; and the seventh time—baby skin!
This sevenfold act may reflect
SPECIAL TOPIC: SYMBOLIC NUMBERS IN SCRIPTURE
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 5:15-19
15When he returned to the man of God with all his company, and came and stood before
him, he said, "Behold now, I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel; so please take a
present from your servant now." 16But he said, "As the Lord
lives, before whom I stand, I will take nothing." And he urged him to take it, but he refused.
17Naaman said, "If not, please let your servant at least be given two mules' load of earth;
for your servant will no longer offer burnt offering nor will he sacrifice to other gods, but to the
Lord. 18In this matter may the Lord
pardon your servant: when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leans
on my hand and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, when I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, the
Lord pardon your servant in this matter." 19He said to him,
"Go in peace." So he departed from him some distance.
5:15 "there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel" Wow, what an affirmation of monotheism!
▣ "please take a present" Culturally a present was expected. See full note at 2 Kgs. 4:42-44.
5:16 YHWH could not be bought but He did want all the world, even Gentiles, to "know" Him!
SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN
5:17 "at least be given two mules' load of earth" In the ANE the people believed that national gods only had power in geographical regions. Naaman's new faith was not yet fully informed by the theology of Moses. He wanted to worship on the soil from the land of Israel.
5:18-19 This passage has always impressed me. Naaman had ritual obligations as captain of Syrian's military to participate in the national ritual of Rimmon worship beside the king. However, Naaman knew there was no God but YHWH! What could he do? The prophet in v. 19 seems to have no problem with Naaman's official duties (i.e., Daniel and his 3 friends).
I wonder how many believers, trapped in hostile anti-God nations, this speaks to. But I also remember how the early Christians suffered at the hands of Romans!
SPECIAL TOPIC: WHY DO CHRISTIANS SUFFER?
5:18 "Rimmon" He (BDB 942 II) is the fertility storm/rain god of Aram/Syria, also known as Hadad (cf. Zech. 12:11). The name seems to come from the root "to thunder."
SPECIAL TOPIC: FERTILITY WORSHIP OF THE ANE
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 5:20-25
20But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, thought, "Behold, my master has spared
this Naaman the Aramean, by not receiving from his hands what he brought. As the
Lord lives, I will run after him and take something from him." 21So
Gehazi pursued Naaman. When Naaman saw one running after him, he came down from the chariot to meet
him and said, "Is all well?" 22He said, "All is well. My master has sent me, saying, 'Behold, just
now two young men of the sons of the prophets have come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please
give them a talent of silver and two changes of clothes.'" 23Naaman said, "Be pleased to take
two talents." And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags with two changes of clothes and
gave them to two of his servants; and they carried them before him. 24When he came to the hill,
he took them from their hand and deposited them in the house, and he sent the men away, and they departed.
25But he went in and stood before his master. And Elisha said to him, "Where have you been,
Gehazi?" And he said, "Your servant went nowhere."
5:20-27 This paragraph records the sad story of Gehazi's greed. Did he really think the prophet would not know (v. 26)?
Sin always has terrible consequences!
These actions of Gehazi changed the focus of the miracle to one of heal-for-hire! This changed the focus from YHWH's unique existence and mercy.
5:20 "spared" This VERB (BDB 362, KB 359, Qal PERFECT) basically means "to withhold" or "to refrain." Here, it is used in the sense of not accepting. This would be the exact opposite of what Gehazi will do.
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 5:26-27
26Then he said to him, "Did not my heart go with you, when the man turned from his
chariot to meet you? Is it a time to receive money and to receive clothes and olive groves and
vineyards and sheep and oxen and male and female servants? 27Therefore, the
leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your descendants forever." So he went out from his
presence a leper as white as snow.
5:26 "heart" See SPECIAL TOPIC: HEART.
5:27 "forever" See SPECIAL TOPIC: FOREVER ('olam).
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.
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